KUALA LUMPUR – Police are investigating a recent incident in the KL Futsal League where a referee was attacked during a match.
In a statement today, Petaling Jaya OCPD Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said a report on the incident was lodged on August 31 at 12.12am by a Malaysian man in his 40s.
He added that the incident allegedly took place in a sports complex in Ara Damansara on August 29 around 9.45am.
The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.
If found guilty, the perpetrator will face imprisonment for a term that may extend to one year, a fine that may extend to RM2,000, or both.
Previously, Scoop reported that a referee officiating a futsal match became the victim of assault after being attacked by a player.
The incident unfolded when the referee issued a red card to the goalkeeper of Fussa Futsal Club for a foul against Salai FC’s centre-forward during their recent KL Futsal League outing.
What happened next shocked everyone when a player from Fussa Futsal Club, believed to be on the sideline, charged in and attacked the referee, using his knee to strike the back of the referee’s body in a Muay Thai style.
However, the player has since apologised to the referee in a text message, which has also gone viral.
Following the viral incident, Fussa Futsal Club issued an apology for the behaviour of one of their players and confirmed that appropriate action had been taken.
Meanwhile, Safe Sport Malaysia founding president Sarina Sundara Rajah has condemned acts of aggression or intimidation towards referees and emphasised the need for their protection.
“It is not uncommon for players to engage in heated exchanges with officials in football. Navigating this situation can be difficult and even dangerous for referees who are committed to upholding fairness in the game.
“However, engaging in aggression or intimidation towards them is never acceptable and should be avoided at all costs,” she told Scoop. – September 4, 2023